mary1111: reinstate Paxil

[mary1111]

I’m 29 days off Paxil and am suffering. My psychiatrist offers 10mg of Prozac, but I just don’t know. 
 

I started Paxil in October with 10mg, after 5 weeks moved up to 20mg, 2 week after up to 30mg and then 40mg where I lasted 24 days before calling it quits. All the time I was nauseous and was shaking as if I had Parkinson’s. I was completely nonfunctional.

 

Then tapered off:

December 19: Down to 30mg - went ok
December 25: Down to 20mg - went ok
January 12: Down to 15mg - went ok
January 25: Down to 10mg - went ok
February 28: Down to 5mg - more difficult but manageable 
March 7: Down to 0mg - unmanageable 

So 7 weeks of tapering in total — I know it’s fast but Paxil never helped me and just made me very sick. And 6 months in total — 3 months increasing and 3 months decreasing.

 

Now fully off the issues started day 5: I’m a vomiting, shaking, anxious, flu like feeling, bedridden mess 😞 The ones I’m struggling with the most is extreme anxiety, nausea and tremors. Right now it’s worse on day 29 than on day 5. 
 

I’m not sure what to do here. Am I doomed because it’s already been two weeks and I’ve felt increasingly bad the last week? Will it peak? Do I hold on? Is the hugely increased anxiety normal? Do I start taking Paxil again? Do I start Prozac? All questions I don’t know how to answer and questions my psychiatrist can’t seem to answer either.

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a peer owned and run forum of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  I'm very sorry to hear that you are going through this.  We here have been through similar issues, and understand how difficult it is.  From what you describe, it sounds as if you had an adverse reaction to the Paxil. Now that you have gone off, you have anxiety in addition to the other symptoms.  So now it seems to me as if you have withdrawal going on as well.

 

First of all, can you please give us specific information about your drug history?  Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

This gives you information about adverse reactions to psych drugs: 

 

Adverse Reactions

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

What is Withdrawal Syndrome?

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.  

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

When we recover, there are times of feeling OK mixed in with times of feeling bad.  This is called windows and waves.

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

 

Magnesium

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

Yes, major anxiety is very common with psych med withdrawal.  You are not doomed.  It feels terrible now, but I believe you can and will recover, given time.  If it were me, I would not go back to the Paxil.  It didn't agree with you, and it can be hard to get off of.  I will confer with the other moderators, and one of us will get back to you as to whether reinstating to Prozac would possibly be helpful. 

 

I've given you quite a bit of information here.  Please read through it, and mull it over, and we will take it from there. In the meantime, take care of yourself, and take heart.  We in this forum have been through this, and we understand first hand the pain and discomfort you are going through.  Please know that the brain is amazing in it's healing abilities.  It takes time, but healing can and will happen. 

 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @mary1111

 

On 4/3/2021 at 3:08 AM, mary1111 said:

February 28: Down to 5mg - more difficult but manageable 
March 7: Down to 0mg - unmanageable 

 

What were the symptoms you got after decreasing to 5mg and then 0mg?

[mary1111]

Massive anxiety, shaking, inside and out, nausea, vomit, flu like feelings, crazy headaches. 
 

It’s 7:30am here and I’ve already vomited and am laying in my bed shaking with anxiety. 

[mary1111]

5mg: started to feel bad but I could still function. 
0mg: a week later I couldn’t and still can’t. 

[getofflex]

We suggest you try going on 1 mg of Prozac.  I would suggest the liquid.  We call this reinstatement.  Here is some more information about reinstatement.  

 

Reinstatement

 

About Reinstating and Stabilizing to Reduce Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Please ask your doctor how much of the liquid you need to take to get 1 mg of the drug.  A syringe is the best way to take it.  I can explain how to dose precisely when you get the Prozac.

 

Hang in there.  It sounds pretty rough, and I'm sorry you are going through this.  It can and will get better with time.  You're in my prayers. 

[getofflex]

@mary1111how are you doing?  Did you reinstate to Prozac?